The Perfect Super 8mm Highlight Part II – The Shot List

01.28.10

Hi IN[FOCUS] Readers,

Well, Corbin and I hope part 1 of this series has helped you prepare for your Perfect Super 8mm Highlight, and that you’re now ready to learn some of our day-of-strategies that help us obtain that perfect Super 8mm Highlight (or at least get as close as possible, lets face it, rarely does wedding filming reach perfection).

Here I am describing the shots we choose, and why we choose them:

And now what you’ve been waiting for, a shot list for The Perfect Super 8mm Highlight: (all ceremonies and receptions are different, so this may not be the perfect list for every wedding highlight)

establishing shots of the ceremony location (remember you’ll want a still shot over which to put the bride’s and groom’s name)
detail in the bride’s room to establish it (her bouquet is always a good choice)
the bride smiling and/or laughing
a wide shot of all the bridesmaids
establishing your groom (maybe entering his room if possible)
detail of the groom’s room (jacket hanging up)
a wide of all the groomsmen
the groom smiling and/or laughing
establish the ceremony location (a wide of it with no guests or a shot of the program)
3-4 ceremony detail shots (you’ll use these as cutaways during the ceremony, so be sure to shoot mids or close shots)
guests mingling and greeting one another
the groom walking into place for the ceremony
groom’s smiling (remember to get it in-between the bridesmaids coming down)
a wide of entire wedding party in place (not shown in film)
the bride’s entrance (remember to try and get 2-3 shots of her entrance)
the bride’s father giving her away
unity candle or any other unique ceremony event
vows and/or ring shots
the kiss
the couples exit
1-3 shots of couple right after ceremony as they look at their rings.
reception establishing shot
2-3 reception detail shots (we no longer film the cakes, since we show them during the cake cutting)
the couple’s reception entrance (only film the bride and groom’s entrance and not their entire wedding party)
2-4 shots of the couple’s First Dance (the groom twirling his bride is always a good shot, as is the dip and/or kiss at the end)
2-3 shots of the Father/Daughter Dance
2-3 shots of the Mother/Son Dance (the beginning and ends of the dances seem to be the best moments)
cake cutting (again, all receptions are different, so just do your best to get all the major moments)
family members and wedding party dancing (do your best to get both sets of parents and grandparents)
bride and groom dancing
anything unique to the bride and groom’s reception (photo booth, candy bar, etc…)
bouquet and garter toss
the couple’s Last Dance and/or exit